?My Job Was to Make Sure Shaq Didn?t Get Any Trouble?: Legendary Lakers Coach Phil Jackson Had a Peculiar Role for 4x NBA Champion

Legendary head coach Phil Jackson is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the league. He has won a mindboggling 13 NBA titles in his career as a player and coach. Two of the rings came as a player for the New York Knicks and 11 rings came during his time as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. He guided some of the all-time greats of the game like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, and the late Kobe Bryant, among others, to multiple titles.

Jordan was already a great player when Jackson was an assistant coach for the Bulls, however, he did not win a title until Jackson became head coach. But Jackson did not win a title when MJ took a break as well. The two legends helped each other win. While Jordan did his part on the court, Jackson did his part to make them a winning team and not just a one-man show.

READ MORE – ?Dont Need to Workout for These Bums Anyway?: 325 Lbs Shaquille O?Neal, Once Called Out by Kobe Bryant for Lacking a Work Ethic, Owned Up to His Lifestyle

Similarly, he helped the Lakers as well. The Lakers were already a good team with superstar O’Neal and a young Kobe Bryant on the rise. However, they were not able to win a title.

Phil Jackson wanted no trouble for Shaquille O’Neal

After falling out with the Bulls’ management, Phil Jackson joined the Lakers as the head coach in 1999. The players knew what he had done with the Bulls. And Jackson did his magic for the Purple and Gold. There were ego clashes between Bryant and O’Neal but Jackson knew how to handle superstars. Make no mistake, he managed the iconic “Bad Boy” of the basketball world, Dennis Rodman. He knew how to get the best out of his players.

Recently, one of Jackson’s former players John Salley talked about the coach, Shaq, and his role on the Lakers. Salley admitted that once the player submits, the coach is in charge and he is the one leading the ship. He said, “My job really was to make sure Shaq didn’t get any trouble.”

WATCH THIS STORY – When Did Michael Jordan Retire For The Second Time?

Salley has won four rings in his career, two with the Detroit Pistons, one with the Bulls, and another with the Lakers. He did not play much during his time with the Lakers and was a backup to O’Neal. Salley joked that he played every five games for them.

With the arrival of Jackson, the Lakers looked unbeatable, and Shaq was at the center of things. He dominated the opponents with ease and won the NBA MVP award in 2000. The Lakers went on to win three straight titles from 2000 to 02. Jackson then guided them to another two straight titles in 2009 and 2010 with Bryant.